Farrell: No hesitation putting Lavarnway at first base

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Just two weeks after Ryan Lavarnway first picked up a first baseman’s mitt to try to learn a new position, John Farrell said Wednesday that he would have “no hesitation” asking Lavarnway to play first base in an exhibition game.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Just two weeks after Ryan Lavarnway first picked up a first baseman’s mitt to try to learn a new position, John Farrell said Wednesday that he would have “no hesitation” asking Lavarnway to play first base in an exhibition game.

“That’s the work he’s done there and how quickly he’s caught on,” Farrell said. “It’s not just in terms of fielding a ground ball. It’s the nuances of the position. He’s a smart guy. He’s got great aptitude.”

Lavarnway embraced the move to first base as part of the effort to revitalize his flagging career — a chance to expand his versatility and, along with that, to get on the field more often.

Two seasons ago, Lavarnway blasted 32 home runs in just over 500 plate appearances at Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket. He demonstrated strong plate discipline and got on base. His ceiling looked Mike Piazza-esque.

But Lavarnway hit just nine home runs in 214 plate appearances with the PawSox last season, and he hit only one in 82 plate appearances in the major leagues with Boston. The power that had been his calling card seemed to have disappeared — and, with it, much of his appeal as a prospect.

“I’m well aware that the extra-base power has trended downward,” Farrell said. “His home runs probably came in bunches at the minor league level, and when he didn’t have regular at-bats as he did in the minor leagues, I think it’s harder to catch the upswing and ride the wave a little bit where those home runs might come in bunches.”

In other words, the Red Sox want Lavarnway to play more regularly than he did a year ago — when he either split time with Dan Butler in Pawtucket or sat on the bench five or six days a week in Boston, only on occasion spelling Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

But the playing time might not be there behind the plate, particular for a catcher as limited defensively as Lavarnway is. A.J. Pierzynski and David Ross will break camp with the Red Sox, barring injury to either. Butler and Christian Vazquez — both defensively superior to Lavarnway — are slated to open the season in Pawtucket.

If Lavarnway can adapt to first base, he could see regular playing time for a PawSox team that doesn’t have a highly touted prospect in line to play first base — and that might allow the Red Sox to figure out where his power went.

“Is it an approach at the plate? Is it more of an effort to hit for average rather than drive the baseball? ” Farrell said. “That’s hard to ask a guy to do when he’s not getting everyday at-bats.”